Tipped to join another Championship outfit after impressing once again for Preston North End this season, a move to either Ipswich Town, Birmingham City, Aston Villa, Bristol City or Leeds United was seemingly on the cards before the window closed at 11pm on January 31st 2018.

However, as deadline day approached Premier League interest had emerged in the form of Crystal Palace. It's no secret that the Eagles have struggled for goals this season and Roy Hodgson was actively on the market for more firepower to ease the burden on Christian Benteke.

Due to this sudden interest the 24 year-old was left out of Preston's team for their 3-0 win at Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night as the club said revealed he wasn't in the right frame of mind to play.

The next 24 hours would turn out to be a rollercoaster experience as he made an unexpected move to West Ham United, signing a four-and-a-half-year contract for a reported fee of £10m - a club record sale for the Lilywhites.

Jordan Hugill in action (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

Hammers fans can be forgiven if they were blindsided by this transfer. After all the club were heavily linked with a move for the Russian international Fyodor Smolov and probably weren't expecting to see Hugill unveiled as their one and only deadline day signing.

Admittedly Hugiler will be a relative unknown to Premier League fans after spending all of his career in the lower leagues, but that's not to say he can't follow in the footsteps of those before him that have risen up through the English football league pyramid.

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Who is Jordan Hugill?

Hugill joined Port Vale in June 2013 - spending a brief spell on loan at Gateshead - before joining from Preston North End for an undisclosed fee in the summer of 2014.

He had a couple more loan spells with Tranmere Rovers and Hartlepool and then returned to Deepdale where he began to establish himself as a regular in the side.

Last season was a landmark one for him as he scored 13 goals in 47 appearances across all competitions which is a career high for him. That form carried over into the current campaign as he netted 10 times before leaving North End.

Jordan Hugill (Photo by Mark Robinson/Getty Images)

What can West Ham fans expect from Hugill?

Standing at 6ft tall Hugill can certainly look after himself and should relish the physical battle that awaits him in the top flight of English football. In fact, his game is built around his strength and hold-up play - which should be useful given Andy Carroll faces a spell on the sidelines through injury.

Comfortable winning the ball in the air or with his back to goal, Hugill has led the line for Preston in a 4-2-3-1 formation under Alex Neil this season so he should seamlessly fit into the target man role under another Scotsman in David Moyes.

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It must be noted that he will have to adapt to the demands of playing at a higher level. There will certainly be question marks as to if he has the technical ability to cut it in the Premier League as his lack of pace could prove to be a problem in making the adjustment.

Has Hugill played against Premier League opposition?

He has. Most notably against Bournemouth a couple of seasons ago in the EFL Cup and he lined up against Arsenal in the FA Cup third round tie just over a year ago.

In fact, Hugill gave the Gunners back line a torrid time - especially in the first-half at Deepdale. He claimed an assist as the hosts took the lead and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet before the visitors produced a comeback after the break.

What has the reaction been like to Hugill's arrival?

It's been split. Some Hammers supporters aren't too pleased with the signing of Hugill - guessing they were hoping for someone of a larger profile - but there are a section of fans that are willing to give the striker to prove himself before making a judgement.

What's been said about Hugill in the past?

Micky Adams - who can take some credit in unleashing Hugill to the world when he signed him for Port Vale almost five years ago - had this to say.

"First of all you have to say well done to our chief scout, George Foster, who spotted his potential playing in non-league," Adams revealed. "We had him with us last season and the one thing he struggled with was his fitness.

"Pre-season was a struggle for him as well. He is a big old boy, not used to a professional pre-season, but is one of those lads that never gives up.

"You ask him to pull out of things and he doesn't want to do that."

What has Hugill said about the move?

As you can imagine, Hugill was in shock at joining the Hammers. Reflecting on an amazing five years in his career, the striker has vowed to make the most of this opportunity.

"I'm absolutely delighted!" he told the club's official website. "It's been a long day, but to get this over the line is amazing for me and it's now a new challenge for me and hopefully I can bring what I did at Preston here and show what I can do.

"We got on the train at lunchtime and I couldn't tell you what happened, it's all been a blur!

"It's amazing to know I'm a Premier League footballer, to know where I've come from in the last five years to where I am now in the Premier League is amazing. I'm still pinching myself to see if it's all real, but hopefully I can bring my qualities from Preston here to West Ham.

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"Without a doubt it's a huge opportunity and I'm looking forward to it.

"Wherever I have been in life, not just in football, but in whatever I do, I give everything. I'm going to give absolutely everything for this Club and for my teammates. It's a new challenge for me, playing in the Premier League, but they are going to get nothing less than 100 per cent."

Will Jordan Hugill be a successful signing for West Ham? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.